Saturday, 29 March

Half Day, 2 pm–6 pm

This workshop is designed for teachers and administrators who may need support in further developing interpersonal or “soft skills” needed in English language program contexts. Participants learn and practice strategies for improving their communication and decision-making skills along with enhancing their ability to manage expectations, address confrontations, and motivate others.

In this workshop, participants

complete a management soft skills inventory and identify three key areas for development,

learn strategies to improve communication and be able to identify ways to avoid communication break downs,

use a decision-making model and discuss how it can be applied to meeting and group contexts,

practice peer-to-peer conversations using language and nonverbal responses to explain expectations and address gaps in performance with coworkers, and

become familiar with resources and techniques for motivating others.

Presenter:Michelle Bell, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA

Come and experience a balanced program of communicative language teaching using a variety of comprehension, expression, language-focused learning, and fluency strategies. We experience these using picture books that are not only selected based on readability but also using tellability criteria.

Mentoring can maintain standards and help new hires and current teachers adjust to new teaching demands. It also leads to quality teaching, teacher retention, collaboration, and positive outcomes. However, what are best practices and what tools are necessary to mentor effectively? Presenters lead participants through the process of effective mentoring.

Presenters:Julie Doty, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, USA; Kelly Healey, Tolman High School, Pawtucket Public School Department, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA; Lisa Hollinger, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, USA; Karen Lioy, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, USA

34. Confronting Underlying Racism for Effective Intercultural CommunicationTarget Audience: ESOL faculty and staff at higher education and adult education institutions, and those working in multinational businesses and organizationsSkill Level: All levels of expertise

This workshop discusses how underlying racism prohibits positive, proactive intercultural communication encounters, and the necessary tools and strategies to move beyond prejudice and stereotypes to achieve effective intercultural communication. The workshop includes theory, research, and a new approach to a well-used tool in intercultural communication training: the D.I.E. exercise.

In this workshop, participants

gain knowledge of pertinent research related to racism and intercultural communication;

understand the importance of major theories related to intercultural communication; and

incorporate activities and strategies to enhance communication and productivity in multinational and multicultural educational institutions, small businesses, corporations, and organizations.

Presenter:Daniel Velasco, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, Illinois, USA

35. The RAMP to Standards: How to Align CCSS for All (CANCELED)Target Audience: K–12 ESOL educatorsSkill Level: All levels of expertise

This session explores the role of intentionally planning for and including critical language in district/school curriculum, keeping English learners in mind for their development of academic knowledge. Examples illustrate how curricular units are constructed and enacted by teachers to apprentice their students into becoming engaged, critical, and contributing young scholars.